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Unlike bandmates Joel and Benji Madden, Good Charlotte bassist Paul Thomas doesn't live in Los Angeles, nor does he find much pleasure in the city's paparazzi-riddled scene. Thomas lives in Oakland, known more for its football team than its celebrity sightings. Even so, Thomas gets plenty of questions about the Madden twins — their personal lives, how that affects the band, etc. In keeping with tradition, 210SA asked some questions along the same lines, and others that weren't, in an interview with Thomas to advance Good Charlotte's performance at Mixfest Not So Silent Nite on Thursday, Dec. 6. The show at Lonestar Pavilion at Sunset Station also includes Lifehouse, Three Days Grace, Plain White Ts and more.
 

Mainly how many people are down in L.A. Trying to drive around is the most difficult thing in the world. There are a lot of really stupid people that make me mad a lot. I hate feeling like that and hate feeling pissed at people. L.A. brings that out of me, but not so much with Oakland.

You recently opened some dates for Justin Timberlake. As a rock band, were you surprised to open for a pop star like Timberlake?

Yeah, I definitely didn't think of that, like, “Man, I can't wait to open for Justin Timberlake someday.” But it was our first time getting a premiere opening slot at a big arena gig. That had never happened before, and if it had to be anyone outside of the rock world, Justin Timberlake is one of the coolest guys around. He's pretty well-respected.

Did you get to hang out with him at all?

Well, not as much as I wanted to (laughs). Not really. He was totally nice when we saw each other, and he was pretty low-key. He hung out with his girlfriend a lot on tour, I'm trying to remember ..... Jessica Biel. I forget where it was, but I saw her with ..... what is Goldie Hawn's daughter's name?

Kate Hudson.

Yeah, it was amazing see two huge actresses who look stunning in real life. Backstage, it was a nice switch. You don't really see that too often at a Good Charlotte show.

How much has Joel's personal life (he is currently expecting a child with Nicole Richie) affected the band?

Well, there are definitely a lot more questions about Benji and Joel's personal lives, especially Joel. People will steer interviews toward prying into his life.

Has the extra publicity been a good thing or a bad thing?

I don't know. Publicity doesn't sell albums, though. To have your name up there is always important, and I feel like Good Charlotte is starting to become a staple name ..... Getting your name out there is important.

How much do you think Joel becoming a father will affect the band?

It's totally up to Joel the amount we're going to work. We all feel the same way about wanting time off when the kid is born. I would want to be home the first year of my kid's life, so we're willing to work with him. He also knows he has to work to provide for the kid. He repeatedly says that.

Your Wikipedia entry says you were expelled from school for threatening to punch the principal. True story?

Yes, it did happen. When I got expelled, there was a hearing, and I don't know how it happened, but I got back in. It all went down three months before graduation, but somehow I got back in. It was not that bad of a thing I did. I was making a joke, and another teacher overheard. I said, “Man, I want to punch that bitch in the face,” and the teacher overheard. My dad gave me reassurance about how I would get my ass whooped at home, which I did.

CLINT HALE | 210SA